Intralesional bleomycin-mediated electrochemotherapy in 20 patients with basal cell carcinoma

Background: A new anticancer therapy, electrochemotherapy (ECT), has been introduced that entails exposing cancerous tissues to short pulses of electricity during chemotherapy. This enhances cell membrane permeability and has been shown to have potent antitumor effects in vitro in animal models and in several clinical trials, including nevoid basal tell carcinoma (BCC). Objective: We report the effects of ECT on 20 patients with primary BCC. Methods: Electrical pulses were delivered to 54 tumors after administration of intralesional bleomycin sulfate. Results: Complete responses were observed in 53 (98%), and in the majority of these (94%) after a single treatment. No recurrences have been recorded with a mean of 18 months of observation. Conclusion: Although these are preliminary results, ECT appears to be an effective alternative to surgical excision for the treatment of primary BCC.